Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics

The extremes of space weather are interesting both because they can have severe and unanticipated consequences on our space environment and the technological assets deployed within it, and because such extremes provide us with valuable information about the physical processes involved in the coupled Earth-Sun system in general. The Extreme Space Weather session will focus on solar, interplanetary, planetary, astrophysical, magnetospheric, ionospheric and atmospheric phenomena that we can directly experience, simulate in advanced models, infer from paleo-data (such as ice cores, rocks, and meteorites) and observe from a multitude of stars like the Sun. The extremes of interest include short-term ones, like major space weather events of the magnitude of the 1859 Carrington event, as well as events such as the recent deep extended solar minimum. What are the impacts of such phenomena from the Sun through the heliosphere and then throughout geospace? What are the worst events we should prepare for in terms of geomagnetic storms, energetic-particle populations, or irradiance changes? Should we care about experiencing a modern-day Maunder Minimum? Predictions for the next solar cycle are welcome.

During last decades fractal analysis and in a given measure its multifractal generalization(s), have become very popular tools in exploration geophysics. In petrophysics fractal and multifractal analyses are used for reservoir characterization and in geomagnetism and gravity, they are used for causative sources characterization. In seismic data analysis, fractal analysis is being used for scaling deconvolution of the colored signal of reflectivity etc.

The purpose of this special issue is to gather scientific researches related to this topic to show the utility of the fractal analysis in exploration geophysics. The topic of this issue is related to nonlinearity, scaling and complexity of earth system applied in different fields of exploration geophysics.

The issue will focus on nonlinearity, scaling and complexity in the following topics and other relevant research:

1. Exploration Geophysical methods.
   • (a) Gravity/Magnetic methods.
   • (b) Seismic methods.
   • (c) Electrical/Electromagnetic methods.
   • (d) Well Logging.
   • (e) Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).
2. Crustal heat flow studies.
3. Petrophysical studies for reservoir characterization.
4. Signal processing and Image analysis of geophysical fields/data.
5. Fractional Calculus in exploration geophysics.

This Special Issue "Nonlinear waves in the ocean" is dedicated to various manifestations of the nonlinear behavior of ocean water waves of several different types, such as wind waves, rogue waves, tsunamis, internal waves and ship waves. It collects papers on these topics, mostly associated with the "Nonlinear Waves" Group (Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics Division) and the "Sea and Ocean Hazards" Group (Natural Hazard Division), presented at the EGU General Assembly 2011.